Three complete bone marrow transplants in state-funded program

Three out of 14 thalassemia patients sent overseas under a state-funded bone marrow transplant program have successfully completed treatment, according to the Maldivian Blood Services (MBS).

In an interview on Public Service Media (PSM)’s ‘Raajje Miadhu’ show on Friday evening, Dr. Ahmed Umar, an associate specialist in pediatrics with the MBS, said that 14 thalassemia patients were sent overseas with sponsorship from the Zakat Fund.

He said that three of the patients have successfully undergone bone marrow transplants.

Umar said that two of them have returned to Male’ after post-surgery recovery, and the other will return in two weeks.

One of the patients died while undergoing treatment.

“I regret to note that one of the patients we sent overseas died recently. This was last week. We have not received any information regarding any complications among the remaining patients who are undergoing treatment,” he said.

In February, the Health Ministry and the Islamic Ministry signed a Memorandum of Understanding under which the Zakat Fund will sponsor bone marrow transplants of 10 thalassemia patients per annum in the next five years.

In his interview to PSM, Umar said the MBS is currently working on selecting the patients who will receive bone marrow transplants under the program next year. He said the process involves running a lot of tests, including ones to determine the likelihood of success.

Maldives is home to the largest population of thalassemia patients in the South East Asia region, with 666 registered thalassemia patients.

Umar said that Maldives had previously seen the registration of an average of 25 new thalassemia patients per year. But the number is now down to under 20, with 14 new patients registered so far this year.

Last week, the government launched a 10-year masterplan to prevent and control thalassemia in the Maldives, including plans to build a designated hospital for thalassemia patients.